Todd Akin issues apology over 'legitimate rape' comments

Republican congressman Todd Akin has issued an apology over comments claiming
that victims of “legitimate rape” were unlikely to become pregnant.

5:08PM BST 21 Aug 2012

The Missouri congressman, who is also his party's nominee for the US Senate, was rebuked my members of his own party including Mitt Romney following his comments on Monday.

Mr Akin issued a televised apology on Tuesday saying he had "used the wrong words in the wrong way" and asking for "forgiveness" but he is so far resisting pressure to quit the US Senate race.

In an ad released online, Akin again apologized for his comments Sunday, when he claimed in a television interview that women could not get pregnant from "legitimate rape," even as senior Republicans condemned his remarks and called for him to step aside in the race.

Tuesday is the last day for candidates to file in the Missouri race, giving Republicans until later in the day to easily submit a replacement, if Mr Akin decides to drop out.

"Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way, and for that I apologize," Akin said in the Web video.

After Mr Akin's initial comments President Obama made an unexpected appearance at the White House press briefing to condemn Mr Akin saying, "the views expressed were offensive... rape is rape."

The six-term representative made the original comments as he argued that abortion should be illegal even in cases of rape or incest.

His comments have become a distraction ahead of next week's Republican convention to nominate Mitt Romney for U.S. president and put the focus on social issues, rather than Romney's main message of the economy and jobs.

The controversy has also complicated Republican efforts to win the majority in the 100-member Senate.